"Aggression cures a multitude of flaws."

Subject: Thoughts on runner's safety

Original note 12/95. Updated 1/97.

Some of you may be offended by my attitudes. I have been involved in law enforcement as a student, trainer, and practitioner for over 20 years, starting as a Police Explorer in HS. I have an AS in Law Enforcement, a BS Ed in Vocational Ed (police training specialty), JD, and several years as a prosecutor and police officer in Illinois and Washington. My primary academic interest and concentration is in 4th Amendment law (search and seizure), which includes use of force, and particularly the interaction of law and tactics in policy development, training, and liability prevention. I have published articles in a national police training journal, and consulted with several agencies and nationally known instructors on these and related areas. I have completed the Master of Public Administration degree at EWU. My thesis was on the development and implementation of law enforcement policy, procedure, and reference manuals. I cheerfully admit to being a knuckle dragging thug, but I do insist that it be noted that I am a well educated and well rounded example of the breed. Now that you have a basis for evaluating what I say, and why, you are cordially invited to delete without comment if you think my perspectives will offend you. You won't be the first, nor the last, trust me. :-)

Let's face it: we all run and engage in other exercise for various physical and mental health benefits that we get from it. If you don't do this safely, and get hurt or killed as a result, it's counter productive. That having been said, I'll start.

Understand that there are some who will prey on the weak, no matter where you are. You are responsible for your own safety; NO ONE ELSE IS, legally or morally. Be aware that the most likely threat to many of us is traffic; we are, after all, playing on the motor vehicle's arena most of the time, even if it just to cross the street. A relatively powerful handgun for personal defense might deliver about 400 ft/pounds of force; a car, several MILLION. Careless and criminal behavior in cars is several times more likely, so think accordingly!

Obviously, there are individual factors that can make a real difference. Your level of conditioning, etc, may make a big difference in what you can do. Don't be stupid (as we all have been, right?), and go past what you should be doing. Some of us have different temperature tolerance; keep that in mind. If you can't see well in the dark, adjust accordingly.

I want to suggest a few fundamental principles, first. The human animal's best weapon is the mind, not the tools. BE ALERT. Watch a cat, and notice how it puts safety and awareness first. Know what is behind you, and pay attention to anything out of place: if you perceive that something doesn't fit, get out of there, and analyze it later. Anything out of place is a danger signal -- the statistics that indicate the odds are slight will be no comfort if you experience that one hazardous circumstance. We are here today because our ancestors paid attention, and acted IMMEDIATELY when they had any indication of danger. They didn't stop to intellectualize until they were safe, and you shouldn't either.

NEVER EVER wear an item such as a walkman that may interfere with your senses and perceptions. Don't be complacent because of where you are running. I call that the "Mayberry Mentality". Mayberry never existed, and Andy Taylor would have been killed quickly in the real world. We still see that attitude in many places; I've worked in rural law enforcement as a cop and prosecutor, and I have seen appalling carelessness in cops and civilians who suffer from that syndrome: it's FATAL. Be DECISIVE. If you have to do something, do it NOW. Be AGGRESSIVE if you must counter attack. Be RUTHLESS. The life and safety or yourself and other innocent parties is paramount; that of your assailant is irrelevant and expendable. Halfway measures will anger your assailant. Incapacitate him, and then get out of there to a place of safety. (Paraphrased from "Principles of Personal Defense", by Jeff Cooper, completely without permission.)

Consider this: the human animal is risk aversive. If you create enough risk, you will modify behavior. The point of tactics of encounter is not to win the fight, although that is obviously essential. The point is to create and maintain such an advantage for yourself that there is no fight! If the fight occurs, you have already begun to fail.

I prefer to exercise first thing in the day, before work, etc. Some of this is based on personal factors, of course. I feel better about the day, I need to shower anyway, so why not make it worthwhile and only have to shower once, etc. Another more serious consideration is traffic and related safety. The safest hours, typically, in terms of drunk drivers and predatory criminals, will be the early AM hours, something like 5-7 AM (your experience may vary a bit). Later at night, such as after supper, you may find a high proportion of drunk drivers, and in some neighborhoods, a serious threat level from criminal predators. Of course, in either setting, it will often be dark. I usually wear a reflective vest, and have recently obtained a small personal flashing light similar to those used by bicyclists as taillights (available from a variety of police supply firms, if you can't find them at your running goodies store). I also tend to carry a flashlight. You have a much better chance of being aware of and avoiding a potential problem, from holes in the road to criminals, if you can see it. There are 2 options here. The first is the heavy, aircraft aluminum 4 cell (or nicad equivalent) cop style light. It's nice and bright and will double as an impact weapon for assaultive dogs and persons. Hit the dog between the eyes, the human on the side of the thigh just above the knee, and do it HARD. This should hit a very tender nerve, and cause the assailant to think they have a broken leg, without significant chance of permanent harm. If the human gets up instead of screaming, you have a bigger problem, and may need to use a more damaging technique. I think the MagLites are better made that then Streamlights, at least the switches stand up better. The other choice is a Streamlight "Stinger" rechargeable. It is as bright as the big lights (about 20K candlepower), has a better switch like the Maglites, and is easy to carry. They are about $95, and well worth it in my estimation. This is what I carry on duty, for a variety of reasons, one of which is that it always there.

With the small light, I carry a pepper spray canister. Pepper is about 90% effective when used right. You should get and read the instructions that come with the product you choose, of course. Consistent with other self-defense issues, distance is your friend. For maximum safety and effect, pepper should be used at a distance of 6-10 feet in general, so that the carrier in which the OC is suspended dries on the way to the target. If it has to dry after contact, it wont take effect as quickly. The nose/eyes area is your target. Use short bursts of less than 2 seconds, and keep moving. It doesn't work on everyone. As with all of this, have a "Plan B", and be ready to implement it fast. Note that I refer only to pepper. CS and CS are much less effective, and likely to anger an assailant before stopping them. I read a package insert from one brand which said not to use it if being assaulted with a weapon such as a gun, knife, or HANDS. If I wasn't being assaulted, I wouldn't need it, right? Sheesh. Pepper may not be as effective on animals, or intoxicated humans, as you want it to be. If not, do something different. This may be particularly important to those who live in Western Mountain areas. Most wild animals don't want anything to do with you, and you will never see them. However, cougars have recently attacked humans who were out running (fatally), and a bear with cubs can be a real hazard; you can stumble across them without notice, and be in really deep trouble. Just as with high crime areas, find some other place to run if there is a real possibility of encountering a defensive or hungry wild animal. Trail running in the California woods may be interesting and scenic, but it isn't worth dying for, as a woman did a few years ago.

Protective dogs: I've written on this before, but at this time no longer have a copy of my note. In brief,the Rhodesian Ridgeback is probably your best choice. A good quality example from a reputable breeder should be in the $500-$800 range, and unlike tools, provide company and enjoyment, along with a greater level of alertness than we have, and also contribute to safety all the time. The time, money and effort invested in obtaining a quality pup from a good breeder, and in training it well, is well spent. The dog must be nearly full grown, close to two years, before a steady diet of running. If you are in a hurry, contact breed rescue folks, who always have a list of adult dogs in need of homes, many of which will be of suitable temperament and physical attributes. You aren't really looking for a show dog anyway, and you and this dog need each other!

Guns: A pain in the butt when running. I have done so, but my general position on this is that if you are running in such a crummy area, you have skewed priorities. Move, run somewhere else, whatever. I recall that a world class runner had to be followed by a family member with a shotgun for protection while running in a rural area due to harassment. I think I would vacation somewhere else, myself. (This from someone who avoids any activity which is not compatible with being armed.) If you are threatened by someone with a knife, club, or gun, you have an immediate problem. Contact weapons (knives/clubs) present a lethal threat at 30 feet to a well trained shooter with a holstered pistol: at that distance, that shooter will need to draw and fire ASAP if the assailant starts to charge. Keep that in mind, and keep your distance from strangers. If I were riding a bicycle for exercise, which I have done briefly but did not enjoy, I would (and did) carry my pistol with me. Very useful is a cellular phone. I bought one for my wife, because she rides in rural areas where aid may be hard to find and take forever to find her. It is also useful under a variety of other circumstances, and if you don't go past the barebones monthly service, is cheap and money well spent.

Physical issues: I'm a clydesdale, 6'1, about 215. I am much less likely to be assaulted or threatened than a 5'4, 115 pound woman. Sexual assault is also so unlikely for me that it need not be considered. Only 1/3 of such assaults on women are by strangers, but it can and does happen. As a more likely and easier target, women have a greater need to consider safety issues. However, they may also have greater latitude as a practical and tactical matter because they have greater need to use more force to protect themselves. A firearm may be a more sound investment in time, money, and nuisance for them than for men, at least in the running context.

Suggested reading: Cooper, cited above. Available from Paladin Press, I think, although you may get on some interesting mailing lists that way. Gunsite Ranch/API, in Paulden Arizona should have it, as should Thunder Ranch in Mountain Home TX. "The Truth About Self-Protection", by Massad Ayoob, is available from Police Bookshelf, Box 122, Concord NH 800-624-9049. Bantam no longer has it stock. They also have other titles that may be of interest in this context, and also might have Cooper's book.

I hope this has been informative and helpful, or least thought provoking. I will be glad to respond to the list with further information whenever requested.

"Aggression cures a multitude of flaws."

Doug Mitchell
mitchell@thefuture.net

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